Themed food and drink outlets are hardly something new, but Japan is still ahead of the rest when it comes to strangeness.
However, as is often the case, lifestyle trends in Japan regularly find their way to China.
The Post takes a closer look at some of the themed bars and restaurants in the two countries.
Vampire vibes
The Vampire Cafe in Tokyo includes a Dracula VIP room with Gothic decor featuring skulls, thorns, curses, and blood.
Staff in tailcoats and French maid outfits, wearing ghastly makeup complete the picture.
A coffin-shaped menu offers a roast chicken dish dubbed “The rebel’s punishment, death by fire”.
Lab bar
Tokyo’s Science Bar Incubator is decked out like a biology lab with beakers, alcohol lamps, and test tubes.
Customers are required to wear white lab coats when they enter.
The manager is a biology researcher who wanted to create a place for academic exchanges.
Drinks are served in test tubes, meals come in laboratory glassware and there is litmus paper to test the acidity of the food.
The bar also offers “DNA fortune-telling” which predicts the fate of diners by taking skin samples and testing them using proper laboratory equipment.
The laboratory-themed bar concept is being widely replicated in China.
Ninja nights
Ninjas are an important cultural symbol in Japan and were active in real-life espionage between the 15th and 19th centuries.
With more than a nod to history, the Ninja Tokyo restaurant recreates an ancient ninja village.
A sign at the entrance reads, “Ninjas are in training, please press the button on the sword for assistance.”
At this point a ninja server jumps out to greet customers.
Diners are treated to ninja techniques, such as smoke emerging when a sword is drawn from under a serving plate. Master ninjas also perform magic.
Prison fare
A prison-themed restaurant in Tokyo combines the feel of a jail and a hospital.
Customers are greeted by waitresses dressed as nurses who place removable handcuffs on them.
They can eat in areas resembling a prison cell, operating room, or morgue.
To place an order, customers use their handcuffs to knock on the door to attract the attention of servers.
On offer are soft drinks served in head-shaped bowls and jelly served on sanitary pads to mimic the harshness of a prison environment.
Cosplaying prisoners are also on hand to scare people.
Alcohol studies
China is not being left behind as evidenced by an academic-themed bar in Shanghai.
DJs play electronic music while giving sociology lectures in conjunction with a projector relaying sociological topics.
Cocktails and coffee drinks are named after academic theories.
Beijing is also home to an outdoor philosophy-themed bar.
One of its bosses, Zhang Jianing, told the Beijing Youth Daily: “After a few drinks, engaging in philosophical discussions in a laid-back atmosphere makes conversations flow more freely.”
